patter
1 of 4verb (1)
pat·ter ˈpa-tər 
pattered; pattering; patters
transitive verb
: to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner
intransitive verb
1
: to recite prayers (such as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically
2
: to talk glibly and volubly
3
: to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance
patterer
ˈpa-tər-ər
noun patter
2 of 4noun (1)
1
: a specialized lingo : cant
especially : the jargon of criminals (such as thieves)
2
: the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker
3
: empty chattering talk
4
a(1)
: the rapid-fire talk of a comedian
(2)
: the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine
b
: the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usually humorous monologue introduced into such a song
patter
3 of 4verb (2)
pattered; pattering; patters
intransitive verb
1
: to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
2
: to run with quick light-sounding steps
transitive verb
: to cause to patter
patter
4 of 4noun (2)
: a quick succession of light sounds or pats
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- babble
- blab
- cackle
- chaffer [British]
- chat
- chatter
- chin [slang]
- converse
- gab
- gabble
- gas
- jabber
- jaw
- kibitz
- kibbitz
- natter
- palaver
- prate
- prattle
- rap
- rattle
- run on
- schmooze
- shmooze
- talk
- visit
Noun (1)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gab
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- rap
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English patren, from paternoster
Verb (2)
frequentative of pat entry 3
First Known Use
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun (1)
1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1822, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing patter
Kids Definition
patter 1 of 2
verb
pat·ter ˈpa-tər
pattered; pattering
1
: to strike again and again with light blows
We could hear rain pattering on the roof.
2
: to run with quick light steps
patter
2 of 2noun
: a series of quick light sounds
We heard the patter of little feet.
patter 1 of 2
noun
1
as in chatter
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this their patter could be heard down the hall Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chatter
- chat
- talk
- chitchat
- gossip
- palaver
- jaw
- natter
- gab
- confabulation
- dialogue
- causerie
- table talk
- gabfest
- cackle
- jangle
- small talk
- rap
- schmooze
- discourse
- tête-à-tête
- chin music
- confab
- exchange
- backchat
- debate
- conference
- chin-wag
- dialog
- symposium
- colloquy
- yammer
- crosstalk
- yak
- parley
- yap
- happy talk
- give-and-take
- yack
2
as in terminology
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field the patter of highbrow criticism that one hears in fashionable art galleries Synonyms & Similar Words
- terminology
- dialect
- vocabulary
- language
- slang
- idiom
- jive
- patois
- jargon
- shoptalk
- argot
- lingo
- colloquial
- speech
- colloquialism
- vernacular
- parlance
- shop
- pidgin
- journalese
- cant
- regionalism
- vernacularism
- slanguage
- localism
- provincialism
- bureaucratese
- computerese
- educationese
- cyberspeak
- governmentese
- technobabble
patter
2 of 2verb
as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation the toddler pattered on for what seemed like hours Synonyms & Similar Words
- chat
- converse
- talk
- chatter
- rattle
- gabble
- babble
- prattle
- natter
- palaver
- prate
- rap
- gab
- jaw
- cackle
- jabber
- gas
- schmooze
- chin
- kibitz
- gossip
- kibbitz
- run on
- twitter
- chaffer
- blow smoke
- blab
- shmooze
- chew the rag
- discuss
- shoot the breeze
- talk a blue streak
- chew the fat
- visit
- tattle
- expatiate
- yammer
- descant
- yak
- yap
- yack